Opening day Nov. 3 was among the earliest in the U.S.
Killington Resort kicked off the 2023-24 winter season at 10 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 3, becoming the first resort in Vermont and among earliest in the U.S. to open for skiing and snowboarding.
The first turns of the season on Friday were reserved exclusively for Killington Season Pass, Beast 365 and Ikon pass holders. Saturday, the resort will open to the general public at 9 a.m. and remains open 7 days a week, weather permitting.
“What better way to kick off our 65th season than an early November opening,” said Mike Solimano, president and general manager of Killington Resort and Pico Mountain. “We are very excited to get back to skiing and riding.”
Technically, the first mountain to open for the 2023-24 winter season was a tiny mountain about a hour west of Boston called Ski Ward in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. It opened on Oct. 22, but only for the day. Arapahoe Basin opened for the season Oct. 29 followed by Keystone Nov. 1 (both in Colorado)
Last season, Killington Resort opened Nov. 17 and closed June 1. The previous season, started Nov. 5 and closed June 4.
Early season turns at Killington are accessed via the K-1 Express Gondola and North Ridge Quad. Two trails, Rime and Reason, are now open for skiers and snowboarders. It is intermediate-advanced terrain, with a Woodward Mountain Park in the North Ridge area on Reason. Walking on the Peak Walkway to enter and exit skiable terrain was still required as of publication Tuesday, Nov. 7. Early season conditions exist, and snowmaking and other on-mountain operations may be in progress throughout the day on open terrain.
Remaining a longstanding tradition, season pass holders enjoyed free lunch on Opening Day at the K-1 Lodge, Peak Lodge, or the Subie Shack (located at the bottom of the North Ridge Quad) as a show of gratitude for their commitment to Killington Resort. Opening day skiers and riders were also be able to choose from one of three charities — Burton Chill, Yes Kids and The Snow Angel Foundation — for Killington Resort to donate $10 to in their honor.
Killington’s ops team is simultaneously prepping for the Stifel Killington Cup over Thanksgiving Weekend with top-to-bottom snowmaking on Superstar while conditions allow. For more information and tickets for the event, visit: Killington.com/worldcup.
